Bad news
Posted by Wanda Lach on Friday, August 17, 2012 Under: Family
It seems that good news and happy times have deserted us.
Two weeks ago we started out on a bit of R&R - a trip to Melbourne to spend with Justin on his 22nd birthday.
Several weeks earier Justin came to Bowral with a few complaints - itchyness, severe night time sweating, a lump on his neck and reflux. He'd been to several doctors whilst in Melbourne and was given various medications to help the individual symptoms .
We went down to Jindabyne and he did some skiing and felt a little better.
On his return to Melbourne he visited yet another doctor - this time some blood samples were taken and also an ultrasound of his lumps.
So, instead of a lovely few days in Melbourne we ended up at Melbourne Royal Hospital where he had been told to go as soon as possible for more tests.
The diagnosis was Hodgkins Lymphoma - early stages. So with treatment to be one day every 2 weeks the decision was that he should continue with his studies and work. He had just moved to new accomodation and his new flatmate seems just terrific. His boss and colleagues and friends seem great too.
On Justin's birthday we got a call from Krystin. She had tried to avoid hitting a kangaroo and had lost control of the Subaru and rolled it - written off! How lucky she is to be with us and with only a few injuries - a dirt road with no mobile service and no real through traffic! Lucky that a friend was following and helped out! It never rains but it pours!!!
After returning to Jindabyne and sorting out some of the issues from the accident and making sure Krystin was ok I returned home and decided that it was all too overwhelming and decided to stay at home for the week.
Justin rang on Wednesday - his Pet scans were complete and revealled worse news. He has infected lympnodes in his ribs and hip and even the lung. Diagnosis is now stage 4 Lympoma.
We have jumped in the car and travelled down to Melbourne again. Treatment has now been escalated to 1 week on and 1 week off with stronger chemotherapy.
So the upshot of all this is that we will bring him back to Bowral and get treatment in Sydney. That way we can look after him during this period. Study and work are on hold for the time being.
He is being so stoic about it all, but it is so hard to see such a fine young man having to deal with it all.
Two weeks ago we started out on a bit of R&R - a trip to Melbourne to spend with Justin on his 22nd birthday.
Several weeks earier Justin came to Bowral with a few complaints - itchyness, severe night time sweating, a lump on his neck and reflux. He'd been to several doctors whilst in Melbourne and was given various medications to help the individual symptoms .
We went down to Jindabyne and he did some skiing and felt a little better.
On his return to Melbourne he visited yet another doctor - this time some blood samples were taken and also an ultrasound of his lumps.
So, instead of a lovely few days in Melbourne we ended up at Melbourne Royal Hospital where he had been told to go as soon as possible for more tests.
The diagnosis was Hodgkins Lymphoma - early stages. So with treatment to be one day every 2 weeks the decision was that he should continue with his studies and work. He had just moved to new accomodation and his new flatmate seems just terrific. His boss and colleagues and friends seem great too.
On Justin's birthday we got a call from Krystin. She had tried to avoid hitting a kangaroo and had lost control of the Subaru and rolled it - written off! How lucky she is to be with us and with only a few injuries - a dirt road with no mobile service and no real through traffic! Lucky that a friend was following and helped out! It never rains but it pours!!!
After returning to Jindabyne and sorting out some of the issues from the accident and making sure Krystin was ok I returned home and decided that it was all too overwhelming and decided to stay at home for the week.
Justin rang on Wednesday - his Pet scans were complete and revealled worse news. He has infected lympnodes in his ribs and hip and even the lung. Diagnosis is now stage 4 Lympoma.
We have jumped in the car and travelled down to Melbourne again. Treatment has now been escalated to 1 week on and 1 week off with stronger chemotherapy.
So the upshot of all this is that we will bring him back to Bowral and get treatment in Sydney. That way we can look after him during this period. Study and work are on hold for the time being.
He is being so stoic about it all, but it is so hard to see such a fine young man having to deal with it all.
In : Family
